Bro. Ernest Green Jr.
With personalized covers; one photographically-illustrated.
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The albums were owned and compiled by Ernest R. Green Jr. II. On the cover of one book there is a pair of Black hands breaking free from shackles, shown in front of the red, black, and green Pan-African Flag. In an inscription on the inside cover, Green is described by a compatriot as, “A BROTHER OF THE MIND, A BROTHER OF THE SOUL, A BLACK BROTHER IN THE BLACKEST SENSE OF THE WORD.” This sentiment is abundantly depicted throughout the albums, with scores of photos showing Green and others with their fists raised high in defiance.
One interesting aspect of this album is that it contains a number of sharp, captivating studio portraits. These photos show different unidentified men (presumably other servicemen), impeccably dressed and posed in front of a painted backdrop. The striking, uniform quality of these images and their assured ability to capture a moment in time recalls the great studio portraiture of Malick Sidibé and his contemporaries.
The other of the two albums is devoted to Green’s interest in Martial Arts. The cover of this album is photographically-illustrated with a pair of portraits showing him in a black turtleneck and suave magenta tracksuit with matching hat and shades. Inside the album, there are numerous photos showing Green and others kicking, chopping, leaping, and striking poses. They are either dressed in fly, brightly-colored tracksuits or the traditional Karate gi. Green’s interest in karate presumably continued when he returned stateside, as there is a flyer pasted into the back of the album for “Asatida” Russell J. Perron, a Black martial arts instructor in Colorado, dubbed “the King of Karate.”
Camp Essayons, a former U.S. Army base in South Korea, was located near Uijeongbu City, 20 miles north of Seoul. It housed the 102nd Military Intelligence Battalion, providing intelligence support for the 2nd Infantry Division. It closed in 2006.
Provenance
A incredible, dynamic pair of albums documenting African American servicemen stationed at Camp Essayons, South Korea, in 1974-1975. Both books are loaded with color photographs showing the compiler’s two great passions - Black Power and Martial Arts.
The albums were owned and compiled by Ernest R. Green Jr. II. On the cover of one book there is a pair of Black hands breaking free from shackles, shown in front of the red, black, and green Pan-African Flag. In an inscription on the inside cover, Green is described by a compatriot as, “A BROTHER OF THE MIND, A BROTHER OF THE SOUL, A BLACK BROTHER IN THE BLACKEST SENSE OF THE WORD.” This sentiment is abundantly depicted throughout the albums, with scores of photos showing Green and others with their fists raised high in defiance.
One interesting aspect of this album is that it contains a number of sharp, captivating studio portraits. These photos show different unidentified men (presumably other servicemen), impeccably dressed and posed in front of a painted backdrop. The striking, uniform quality of these images, their assured ability to capture a moment in time, recalls the great studio portraiture of Malick Sidibé and his contemporaries.
The other of the two albums is devoted to Green’s interest in Martial Arts. The cover of this album is photographically-illustrated with a pair of portraits showing him in a black turtleneck and suave magenta tracksuit with matching hat and shades. Inside the album, there are numerous photos showing Green and others kicking, chopping, leaping, and striking poses. They are either dressed in fly, brightly-colored tracksuits or the traditional Karate gi. Green’s interest in karate presumably continued when he returned stateside, as there is a flyer pasted into the back of the album for “Asatida” Russell J. Perron, a Black martial arts instructor in Colorado, dubbed “the King of Karate.”
Camp Essayons, a former U.S. Army base in South Korea, was located near Uijeongbu City, 20 miles north of Seoul. It housed the 102nd Military Intelligence Battalion, providing intelligence support for the 2nd Infantry Division. It closed in 2006.